We LOVE Chinese Food!  Chinese takeout is one of the best forms of takeout for sure! It’s just a thing! One of the best parts is the leftovers. Chinese food leftovers are something to look forward to!

When I was about 5 years old, my dad bought my mom a Chinese food cookbook and a wok set. They then had years of fun together going through that book and making most of the recipes for our family to enjoy. Chinese food is EVEN better made from scratch at home! It is a great group activity as there is a lot of prep work and chopping to do.

Because it is a great group activity, this has become our main New Year’s Eve tradition. We love to make a bunch of homemade Chinese food for NYE. And the leftovers are a fantastic lunch on New Year’s Day. And then, on Lunar New Year’s we love to make some Chinese dishes also.

Which recipe will you try first?

  • Chicken & Mushroom Egg Rolls are a SHOW STOPPER! A Must try for any special Chinese dinner. These get doubled or tripled at our house because they are everyone’s favorite. 
  • Sweet & Sour Chicken is probably the second favorite in our home. This is a must have for New Year’s but also makes a great dinner any time of year. I got the recipe from a friend back in my college days, and now it is a family classic for us.
  • Chicken Cashew is another family favorite. This recipe came from that cookbook that my dad bought for mom 40 years ago.

  • Chicken Fried Rice is a fantastic side dish to eat with all these other dishes, but also is fantastic for a weeknight dinner on its own.

  • Broccoli Beef is my personal favorite. I LOVE it so I make it several times a year for dinner, not just for New Year’s.

 

  • Sweet & Spicy Rumaki is bacon wrapped water chestnuts baked in sweet hot sauce. These are like crack, so be careful!

  • Shrimp Fried Rice is a good one to mix in if are making several dishes, because it’s nice to have a seafood option. This is delicious!
  • Asian Noodle Salad is a great FRESH option! If you are not making this for New Year’s, then definitely make it this summer for a weeknight dinner.

Honorable mentions – these recipes are not Chinese but are some of our favorite Asian recipes that we love to mix in sometimes.

We can’t wait to hear which recipes you try out from this delicious list!